CLEARFIELD – Students in the Clearfield Area School District are off for their first day of school Wednesday, and there’s something new for custodians, maintenance workers, cleaning personnel and food service technicians in the 2006-07 school year as well.
The school board voted unanimously to approve their contract Monday.
The Pennsylvania State Educators Association/National Educators Association contract was approved for five years, retroactive to last school year, when such staffers worked without a contract.
The new agreement provides for a 2.7 percent salary increase for this year. Last year’s increase was set at 2.5 percent. In 2007-08, salaries increase by 3.6 percent with increases of 3.0 percent in 2008-09 and a 2.5 percent increase in 2009-10.
The workers have not had a copay for their health insurance in the past, but that rate will increase to $30 per month in 2007-08, $40 per month in 2008-09 and $50 per month in 2009-10.
Nine people in similar jobs are not subject to the union contract. The board voted in favor of approving a two-year contract with 3 percent annual increases for 2005-06 and 2006-07. Those workers will also receive benefits with evaluations scheduled for this school year.
The board opted for the two-year contract deal over a five-year contract that would have provided for annual 3 percent increases through 2009-10.
Another contract was approved Monday night, that of Jason Barnett, business administrator for the district.
Barnett’s contract was a renewal of his original, which was for one year. The new contract begins Oct. 1 and ends Sept. 30, 2009. The deal must still be reviewed by legal representatives.
Three board members did not vote to approve Barnett’s contract including Denning Gearhart, Dr. Tina Serafini and John Sobel.
Sobel said he voted against the approval because of residency concerns.
“I think the business administrator for a public school district should live within the school district because that is the person who makes recommendations when it comes to tax increases.” He further explained that when an administrator lives outside of the area he or she serves, “there’s still a disconnect between the individual and the community.”